New Zealand Workforce Older, Less Utilised

Fewer New Zealanders are in full time
employment and more are reaching retirement age –
particularly compared other economies in the Asia Pacific
– according to a global study by Kelly.

The survey, part
of the Kelly Global Workforce Index (KGWI) of nearly 170,000
employees worldwide including more than 3,500 in New
Zealand, highlighted the marked difference in the local
workforce and that of the country’s regional economic
partners and competitors.

According to the Kelly research,
at 55%, women make up a higher proportion of the workforce
in New Zealand than the global average (47%) and that of the
Asia Pacific (APAC) region (36%). The New Zealand workforce
is also older, with a mean age of 35.2 among the survey
respondents, compared to 31.9 throughout the Asia Pacific,
with a significantly higher participation of employees from
the Baby Boomer generation – 22%, compared to just 7% in
the Asia Pacific region.

Kelly managing director Debbie
Grenfell says as New Zealand becomes more closely aligned to
markets in the Asia Pacific, and more opportunities arise
from the rapid growing economies in the region, how New
Zealand’s workforce is positioned will become increasingly
important.

“It’s important that we recognise our
differences – and celebrate them – particularly where
they represent the cultural, age and gender diversity we
have in our workforce,” says Debbie Grenfell.

“More
participation from women and workers from across the
generations – especially in leadership roles – means we
have access to a greater range of ideas, experience, and
perspectives, which are vital in a knowledge-led
economy.”

“However, at the same time we need to ensure
we can relate across generations and cultures – not only
within our own workforces, but with our trading partners
throughout the region.”

The survey also highlighted
that, although there is a broader representation of ages in
the New Zealand workforce, fewer local workers are fully
employed. Just 40% of the survey respondents said they were
in fulltime employment, whereas internationally, 54% of
workers are fully employed and 76% in the Asia Pacific
region. 29% of New Zealanders were in part time or casual
work, compared to 20% internationally and 14% in the Asia
Pacific.

According to the survey, 25% of New Zealanders
worked less than 30 hours per week. Around the world, 14% of
workers are employed less than 30 hours and just 9% in the
Asia Pacific work fewer than 30 hours.

In terms of the
industries in which the local workforce is employed, New
Zealanders are less likely to be working in IT than is
common globally or in the region, with just 7% of Kiwis
employed in the field, compared to 10% internationally and
17% in the Asia Pacific region. New Zealanders are also more
highly represented in retail (11% vs. 6% internationally and
4% APAC), the food and beverage sector (7% vs. 4%
internationally and APAC) and hospitality and tourism (8%
vs. 3% internationally and APAC).

According to the Kelly
survey, New Zealanders also have a lower level of tertiary
education, with 32% holding a bachelor degree, compared to
39% globally and 53% in the Asia Pacific; and just 7%
holding and masters degree or doctorate, 20% internationally
and 22% in the Asia Pacific region.

“As we join many
developed countries in a much higher level of engagement
with the Asia Pacific region, it is important we recognise
our strengths and what we have to offer as an APAC
partner,” says Debbie Grenfell.

“New Zealand
businesses and employees represent a diverse and dynamic
population, with wide ranging skills, strong
entrepreneurialism, and an ability to adapt rapidly as part
of a deregulated economy without many of the barriers that
can hold businesses in other countries
back.”

“However, we also need to ensure those
advantages can create the opportunities for greater
participation across our workforce, which in turn offers
benefits for a broader spectrum of our society.”

“We
also need to support our younger people in gaining access to
higher education, to help make the most of emerging
opportunities – particularly in the high tech and
innovation industries, where our distance from the wider
APAC market is less of a
barrier.”

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